PIONEER EDGE NEWS SERVICE/ Uttarkashi
In an important initiative, the Indian Army in collaboration with the Uttarkashi district administration formally inaugurated a community radio station at the government inter college campus in Harshil on Monday. Installed under the Vibrant Village scheme, this radio station would become a bridge for the eight border villages of the Upla Taknaur valley, connecting them directly to the country as well as the world for the first time, the Army officials said.
The General Officer Commanding, Northern India Area, lieutenant general DG Mishra dedicated the station to the public by having a local girl cut the ribbon. In a ceremony steeped in local traditions, the villagers welcomed the Army’s initiative, saying that it would usher in a revolution in communications.
Lt Gen Mishra said in his inaugural address that the Army’s goal is to ensure that people living in the border areas have ample opportunities to communicate their views to the nation and preserve their culture. Speaking of the similar radio stations installed previously in Jyotirmath and Pithoragarh, he said that these had played a crucial role during disasters. “This station in Harshil will not only strengthen the communication system but become a powerful medium for spreading the voices of the border villages far and wide,” he added.
This radio station will regularly broadcast content related to agriculture, horticulture, education, health, disaster management, local culture and entertainment. The station managers, RJ Arun and Varsha said that Ibex Tarana 88.4 MHz would broadcast live programmes like Hello Harshil, Dopahar Gham and Madhya Tarang along with several pre-recorded shows which would prove to be informative and useful for the villagers.
The villagers looked elated while the community radio station was being inaugurated. They said that this station would help them receive reliable information about government schemes and emergency messages in a timely manner. They also expressed the hope that the installation of the radio station would accelerate the pace of development for the mountainous frontier region.
